Kerry calls to explore mechanisms for Karabakh conflict resolution

September 5, 2014 - 09:06 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net - Presidents Serzh Sargsyan of Armenia and Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan met Thursday, Sept 4, with U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry on the sidelines of the NATO Summit in Wales to discuss the Nagorno Karabakh peace process.

Sargsyanand Aliyev presented their perspectives on the conflict resolution, with Kerry emphasizing the need to settle the conflict peacefully, according to Asbarez.

Calling on the two leaders to explore mechanisms for reducing tensions at the line of contact, Kerrysaid escalation hampers the peaceful resolution of the conflict.

He urged the two leaders to work together with the OSCE Minsk Group Co-chairs, adding that political will from both sides would become the cornerstone for peace in the region.

The meeting came a day after Azerbaijan’s delegation to the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly announced intention to call into question the effectiveness of the Minsk Group process at the Assembly's next session.

Earlier Thursday, Sargsyan addressed the Summit, challenging NATO on the Karabakh conflict, saying that either peace will prevail in Karabakh or the continued threats of war will mar security in the region.

Photo from Narek Nikoghosyan's FB page

The conflict between Nagorno Karabakh and Azerbaijan

The conflict between Nagorno Karabakh and Azerbaijan broke out as result of the ethnic cleansing launched by the Azeri authorities in the final years of the Soviet Union. The Karabakh War was fought from 1991 (when the Nagorno Karabakh Republic was proclaimed) to 1994 (when a ceasefire was sealed by Armenia, NKR and Azerbaijan). Most of Nagorno Karabakh and a security zone consisting of 7 regions are now under control of NKR defense army. Armenia and Azerbaijan are holding peace talks mediated by the OSCE Minsk Group up till now.